Monday, August 14, 2017

El fin se acerca y hay poco tiempo
(The End is Near and There is Little Time)

Here I sit at the bottom of the world filled with so many emotions. I cannot believe that the time has come. I always knew it would go by fast but I can’t believe how fast my beloved mission has gone.
There is a country song that says, "you’re gonna miss this, you’re gonna want this back, you’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast, these are some good times so take a good look around, you may not know it now... but you’re gonna miss this." This song was in my mind all this week as I really soaked up every minute. I tried my best to enjoy my view and take it all in. I’m going to miss this with all my heart.

I would like to share with you all my testimony of the work of the Lord and my mission in CHILE!

I know that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that Joseph Smith was called of God to restore the Gospel in this day and age. I know that Thomas S. Monson leads and guides the Church right now. I know that he worries about us every day and knows exactly what we need to hear because he is always talking with our Savior. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that reading it every day is a commandment so that we can prepare ourselves for the Second Coming of our Savior.

I want you all to know that I know this is the work of the Lord. I have felt His love every day for the last year and a half, for me and all the people I have been surrounded by. He loves each one of us and wants nothing more than us to return home to Him and our loving Heavenly Mother.

There is a saying in my patriarchal blessings that says I will not only love the children that come to me but that I will have a love for all the children of my Heavenly Father. I’m so extremely grateful for this blessing and I absolutely feel this love for all my brothers and sisters! Somedays we would walk the whole day without anyone wanting to listen to us and as my brothers and sister would open the door all I wanted was to be able to teach them the truth and bring them back home. My loving Heavenly Father sent me to one of the most beautiful missions in all of the world, He sent me here to find my brothers and sisters who were waiting for me.
My heart is just full of love I can’t even begin to describe it. My love for my family has grown immensely while here on the mission. I’m so grateful for my parents and my amazing siblings. The family is everything to me and nothing brought me greater joy than finding families to teach and bringing the joy of the Gospel into their lives.
I know that Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for each of His children. I have truly felt like His little helper in this little part of the world from knocking on doors, and talking to His children in the street. I have many stories about how we found people to teach in the most perfect timing and it’s because Heavenly Father is in charge.

My mom sent me a paper at the beginning of my mission that says, "Find who you have not yet become" I have had this saying on my wall my whole mission. I truly feel like I have been born again. The mission has changed my life. The mission is the greatest adventure anyone could ask for. This has been the hardest, sweetest, most amazing 18 months of my life. The mission is something I will never be able to fully describe.
I’m so grateful for my AMAZING mom. She truly guided and helped me along my whole mission. She has been over 5,000 miles away every week her letters helped me focus and have a desire to work even harder. I will never be able to thank her enough. Those of you who know my sweet mom know what I’m talking about. My mom is an angel on earth and I’m so grateful I was sent to be her daughter. Heavenly Father has put the greatest people in my life. I love you all!! I am excited for the future and to see what the Lord has planned for me. I know this next chapter of my life is going to be the best and hardest years of my life and I feel like with all I have learned on the mission I’m ready to take it all on.

I’ve learned how to be happy in every circumstance. We are here to have JOY. Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are preparing the world for the Second Coming. WE CANNOT REST NOW ... WE MUST WORK EVER DAY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE ETERNAL LIFE... WHICH GIFT IS THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL.

This is it my family and friends… If you would like to hear me in LIVE... come to my homecoming this Sunday! Contact my mom (435-881-7451) or brother (435-994-4979) for details!!!!

Love you allllll and will see you sooooon!

My last email from the bottom of the world!!!!
Chao... adios amigos!

Hermana Falslev

My last intercambio with Hermana Sessions

This is a picture of Ximena and Josefa... the cutest mom and daughter ever! Josefa is the best investigator ever so many awesome experiences with them!

Brianne returns home Friday at 10:12am
Her Homecoming will be this Sunday, August 20th at 11am at the Benson, Utah Church Building (3472 N 3000 W, Benson, UT 84335)
After Sacrament Meeting we will be having a get together at our home (3296 N 3000 W, Benson, UT 84335) Please feel free to come and if you'd like, bring your favorite potluck.

Monday, August 7, 2017

I love her smile in this picture.. she was so happy on this special day :)

7 August 2017

The weather this last week was so very beautiful with sunny skies! I was so happy that I didn’t have to wear my rain boots all week :)

Monday night we had a Family Home Evening with President and Hermana Isom. They came and picked us up and we had to do a little off-roading to get to the house in the country and it was a lot of fun. They just got a new car so it was the first-time off-roading in it! It was so much fun to be with them. During the FHE the spirit was so strong and we all shared a little bit and Nataly even shared her testimony of how much her life has changed since we found her in the street and it was so special. Hermana Isom was holding her little baby and Antonia loved her and would just stare at her when she shared her testimony in English. It was a perfect night. President and Hermana Isom didn’t get back home until 11 at night...

Tuesday was my last Leaders Conference and it was so much fun. Hermana Isom asked me to sit by her and translate so I didn’t have much time to write because I was busy listening and then explaining in English. That night we had a lesson with Yamisela and Luis and family Mansilla... we shared a video of the First Vision and the spirit was so strong! They will be coming to church this next week!

Wednesday night Nataly had her baptism interview with our District Leader. She walked out of the room and was trying to act sad like she didn’t pass but she couldn’t hold back the smile. After her interview, a member met us at the church house and we did a church tour. We talked about all the organizations of the church. The spirit was so strong as we went from room to room. Nataly loved it.

Friday, we had lunch with Nataly and the whole family. She made yummy enchiladas and salads. She loves having us over for lunch. One of the nieces of Miguel came from Santiago to visit for the weekend... (she is the tall one in the pictures) Her mom the sister of Miguel actually got baptized about 7 years ago but now she isn’t active :( But it was fun sharing with her.

Saturday was the baptism at 5:00! Miguel showed up wearing a suit and they just all looked so good together! Nataly had the sweetest spirit about her and she used the temple dress of my companion. I feel like it all went by so fast. All the members that helped teach her came and many more. As they opened the doors to the baptismal font all the mirrors were foggy because it was so nice and warm so they had to get paper towels and wipe them in so we could see! It was so cute, before her baptism Miguel just kept telling her how beautiful she looked and kept kissing her. They are so cute together. He was taking a bunch of pictures sending it to his family in the states who are members! Then after she got baptized they all went and hugged her! IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. My heart was so full of joy the whole night and all day Sunday. She was late to church but was just in time to receive the Holy Ghost!

Brother Barrientos is our Gospel Principles teacher and he is the one she wanted to have baptize her!

Sunday, I bore my testimony and couldn’t speak for a good 10 seconds because I was crying so much 🙈😥 but the Spirit helped me to be able to testify! As I looked around at the Members my heart was so full of love. I feel like Hermana Adams was just barely saying her last testimony! I shared my gratitude for having been able to find Nataly and teaching her and seeing her conversion and as I returned to sit down she was crying and gave me the biggest hug. We have a bond that cannot be broken :)

Well here I am finishing my second to last letter home! I love you all so very much... The mission is honestly something I will never be able to put into words but more than anything it’s life changing! Ending the mission is the most bitter sweet thing that has ever happened to me! Next week I will end with my final testimony...

I’m excited to go to work this week and to finish strong! Thank you so very much for all your love and prayers...
Chao hasta la próximo lunes amigos!

--
Hermana Falslev

Pictures from the baptism of Javier!

Volcan Osorno from the bus home

I started my mission with Hermana Delmas from Brazil.. it was so fun having her stay at our house for a few days!

We had to do a training for the new missionaries and their trainers.. it was so much fun!

Thursday, August 3, 2017

There is so much happiness in my heart today!
This week we had a lot to do and we got it all done! We have been meeting with Nataly and Cataline almost every day this week. Thursday, Nataly told us she wanted to be baptized the 5th of August. Our plan was that Nataly and Cataline could be baptized together but Cataline told us she isn’t quite ready but her mom wants to be baptized this coming Saturday the 5th!
I cannot even begin telling you all of the miracles we have seen with Nataly. Thursday, we taught tithing and after we had finished teaching she told us that she had a new miracle to tell us… So, her little baby, Antonia, has been sick and so Nataly took her to the doctor. The doctor told her to go buy a medicine that was 30 mil pesos (about 55 dollars). She told us that she couldn’t buy it because she literally only had 7 mil pesos. She got home that night and started to cry because she felt like a horrible mother. This is my favorite part, she then got on her knees and prayed and prayed, asking for help from Heavenly Father to help her. She ended the prayer and she felt a lot better and had finally stopped crying. That night after her husband Miguel got home someone knocked on their door asking if they could buy one of the pallets outside of their house and the guy then offered to fix their car outside of their house that doesn’t work. She told us with the biggest smile on her face that she knew this was a sign from Heavenly Father and ended by telling us she would be baptized on the 5th of August. AMAZING!

I’m sorry that story might be confusing but it was so amazing to hear. The Lord is working in such beautiful ways to help us bring Nataly unto Him.

Saturday, we had an activity at the church house for the Primary and Cataline danced with the young women. When we got there, she told me that her dad was going to come and the next people I see walk through the door is Nataly, Miguel, and Antonia in her stroller! The whole family came to the activity. Hermana Cuña and I never thought he would come and he came! I truly feel like one day they will be sealed in the Temple together! Miguel was helping with everything and was talking to all the members. Little by little he is warming up to the Church!

I really am so grateful for these amazing people in my life! I feel so much love for Nataly, Catalina, Miguel, and Antonia. I know that I was sent here to teach them and love them. I truly couldn’t not be ending my mission in a better way. I’m giving it all I have these last 2 weeks...love you all!!!